GNOSB Meeting Minutes — November 20, 2025

Greater New Orleans Service Board
Wednesday, November 20, 2025 | 6:30pm
Central Office, 638 Papworth Ave, Ste A, Metairie, LA 70005
aaneworleans.org | office@aaneworleans.org

Officers: Chairperson: Jim R. | Co-Chair: Jim N. | Treasurer: Charles H. | Secretary: Rene’ M.

In attendance: 4 Trustees; 2 Committee Chair/Co-Chair; Central Office Manager; 1 DCM/District Rep; 4 Group Service Board Reps/GSRs; Visitors; 1 via Zoom

Welcome

Meeting called to order at 6:30pm by Jim R. with Serenity Prayer and introductions.

Officer Reports

• Secretary (Rene’ M.): Minutes reviewed and approved
• Treasurer (Charles H.): Total income is down by a few hundred dollars compared to the previous year. Despite the slight decrease, overall financial performance remains consistent with recent trends. A new plain-language version of the CPA report has been uploaded to the website, along with a detailed breakdown of goods sold to give home groups better context

Central Office Reports — Carolyn H.

• Full report available on website
• New plain-language monthly summary now available
• New holiday gift items (e.g., meeting in a bookmark, sober hats)
• Updated back-office computer for hybrid meetings
• Collaborated with Big Deep South to establish a more user-friendly and cost-effective website platform
• Preparing content for table at Sober Fest
• Updated online and women’s meeting pamphlets

Committee Reports

• Big Deep South (Mary H.): Searching for a new venue for BDS meetings — have outgrown Central Office. First fundraiser brought in $501.00; with the November registration special, over 80 people pre-registered. Artwork selected; new website expected to be operational by December. Next meeting: December 3 — will choose colors for artwork and vote on Voice of the Convention
• Budget & Finance (Patrick R.): First weekly meeting had modest attendance but good conversations. A digital “ask it” Google Form has been sent to gather questions, feedback, and interest in joining the B&F committee. Responses will guide scheduling and agenda creation
• TNC: Absent | Hotline: Absent | Unity & Service: Open | PICPC: Open | Website: Open

District Reports

• D12 (Lilian): Spring Roundup seeking Technology Co-chair; all donations welcome. Pierre selected as Voice of the event. District 12 budget approved. The Alternate Delegate for Louisiana intends to submit a bid for SSAASA 2027. LASCYPAA: April 10–12, 2026 with 262 registered; recent fundraiser saw strong attendance; District 12 committed to providing 40 scholarships. TNC encouraging participation to maintain consistent meetings at treatment centers. New Plain Language Big Book Step Study meeting every other Friday. District Treasurer stepping down in spirit of rotation — position open. Al-Anon event with AA participation: “Angels on Us” winter celebration, Saturday December 13, 6pm, dinner provided
• D19 (Buddy): Attendance growing. Grapevine workshop in February — more information to come
• D17, D18, D20, D21, D25: Absent

Old Business

• Service Board Inventory notes meeting: The group agreed to include Inventory questions on the regular Service Board meeting agenda. If time does not permit, a separate meeting will be arranged

New Business — Deficits and Solutions

• Significant time spent discussing ways to address the deficit. Concerns raised regarding home group involvement and Central Office operating hours
• Suggestions included: Central Office and Service Board workshops/speak n eats with suggested donation, cook-off fundraisers, literature table pop-ups, online website retail, District pre-orders, outreach, Fellowship Cookbooks (“One Dish at a Time: Recipes from the Rooms”), sweets auctions, and visiting home group business meetings for feedback
• Motion to launch office hour questionnaire with $25 gift card drawing incentive (one entry per email): passed

Motion to close at 7:29pm with circle and Responsibility Statement.